Lubricant purifier



Patented Mar. 23, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE 2,314,640 LUBRICANT PURnuER Charles A. Winslow and Laurence L. Moore, Oakland, Calif., assignors to Winslow Engineering Co., Oakland, Calif., a partnership consisting of Charles A. Winslow, Catherine B. Winslow, Laurence L. Moore,` and William G. Nostrand Application February 27, 1939, Serial No. 258,653

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a novel method and means of purifying lubricants and one of its principal objects is the provision of improved and eicient oil conditioning and purifying apparatus for engines and like machines. More particularly it relates to materials used for purifying lubricants and the method of assembling these materials to obtain the optimum results in the minimum of time.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an oil conditioning element which is relatively free flowing and exible, thus providing a construction which permits a maximum flow rate through the element for the purpose of bringing the fluid to be ltered and processed into contact with the materials in the element for the purpose of changing the nature of deleterious substances contained in the lubricating oil, fuel oil or other fluids to be reconditioned and cleaned.

A further object of the invention is the provision of detergents composed of combined ele? ments of a different chemical analysis and physical construction within a porous flexible housing for the purpose of causing a multiplicity of chemical and mechanical actions to occur within the so-called relatively free flowing flexible element during the passage of hydro-carbon fluids and impurities therethrough, thus preventing the accumulation of deposits in the engine.

A further obiect is the provision of a porous ilexible casing enclosing a combination of elements of unlike nature with relation to their reaction toward'the effect of moisture and acids, gummy residue, carbon and. other impurities commonly present in lubricating oil etc., thus neutralizing their deleterious effect.

A further object is thel provision of a ilexible hollowl, casing preferably of tubular form and composed of knitted materials incasing combined and mixed brous and porous materials such as cotton and Wood bers into a folded knitted tube, reversing the tube and doubling same back over the exterior in tension, again reversing the tube through the center and locking the entire construction in a seemingly endless form by the insertion of a spring like coil in the center, the object being to prevent the expanding action of the element from compressing toward the center during operation and thus forming a common center housed in compressed knitted cloth tubing which serves as a base tov cause outward movement of the element during operation, which serves to gradually open up the exterior covering causing an increased porosity on the exterior which in turn serves to prevent the outer face from becoming clogged or coated with contamination.

A still Vfurther object is the provision of a ilexible casing composed of woven or knitted material as above noted and with constricting rings closing the hollow center on opposite ends combined with a coil spacer spring inserted through the center which prevents the element from shortening when clamped on the center tube of a lter or oil conditioner and also prevents the element from shortening or distorting due to the expanding action of the material therein during operation.

A still further object is the provision of a novel casing to house the above porous` ilexible element, said casing to be preferably made of cylindrical form with a iluid inlet at or near the bottom and a central outlet terminating at or near the bottom. A central outlet is preferably of tubular form and arranged with a removable cover to which the central outlet tube and element are attached, the object being that the element is withdrawn when the cover is re- IIlOVed.

From a study of the above principal objects as set forth it will be evident that we have provided first, a novel construction of the lubricant purifying element which has the advantages of, iirst, a porous flexible construction which will actually move and growduring operation due to the eiect of temperature and pressure changes, and second, we have provided within the connes of the porous flexible purifying element, materials of different chemical analysis which during operation have the elect of causing greater chemical changes in the fluid passing therethrough by a combined chemical and catalytic action, thus cleaning the lubricating oil and restoring to its original value.

In the past it has been common to use lters for lubricating oil etc., which simply absorbed deleterious substances within the confines of the iilter element until such time asthe entire mass of the iilter material was plugged with sludge etc. Other types were commonly used wherein the surface area of the filter element only, was presented to contaminationv in the lubricant ltered, and therefore these types of filters were limited in capacity to either their volumetric capacity or surface area. In the present case it is to be clearly understood that the novel construction of the element itself and materials used bring about entirely diierent results, for

instance, at no time during the useful life of the element is sludge collected on its exterior surface, due to, iirst,the growing action of the element during operation which causes the exterior surface and porosity of same to be gradually expanded, opening the pores of the knitted material to prevent the caking of sludge thereon. Secondly, the chemical ingredients within the relatively free-flowing element cause a chemical change in the nature of the hydrocarbon passing therethrough serving to disassociate and prevent the uniting of the ingredients which commonly cause the formation of sludge in an engine during the operation thereof. Finally, due to the relatively free-owing action of the element, the actual chemical changes of hydro-carbon fluids passing therethrough and the growing and expanding action of the element itself plus a catalytic action due to the chemical nature of the filter ingredients combined with the general construction, including the iron core spacer, an action is set up which tests have shown cause the novel oil purifying, filtering and Washing element to function ve to ten times longer than the conventional devices used for purifying lubricants commonly used in the past.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident as will appear herein, after a further study of the description, drawing and claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the first stages of stretching the flexible knitted material over and into a casing for loading the lter ingredients in the proper form.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the second stage wherein the filtering and purifying ingredients are shown compressed in the porous flexible knitted casing which is held in proper formby a metal container and central stud arrangement.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the novel element illustrating the third stage of its construction showing the knitted casing about to be forced into the second folding operation and locked in place with the iron coil spacer.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the finished element in its preferred form.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the novel element taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view of a modiflcation of the novel element.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view of a further modification of the novel element.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a further modification of the element.

Fig. 9 is a Vertical sectional view of a still further modication of the element.

Fig. 10 is a vertical partly sectional view illustrating the filter element in its preferred form housed within its casing which incorporates the novel features of sealing the element between the inlet and' the central outlet tube in such manner that when the casing cover is removed the novel element comes out of the casing automatically.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the lines Il-I i of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating a section of the novel purifying element in its preferred form before and after use.

Fig. 13 illustrates in enlarged form the effect of the mechanical and chemical action on the filter material as impurities are processed from the fluids purified.

-Referring to the drawing we have shown in Fig. 1 the first stages of the preferred method of forming the element, wherein the reference character l designates the porous knitted tube of fabric held in position for loading. 2 designates a hollow metal cup like form with perforations 3 and 4 in the lower portion thereof. 5 illustrates a central stud preferably attached to the bottom of the casing 2. 6 shows a loading tube in place, resting on a rubber clamping ring 1. 8 shows a ring clamping means holding the upper end of the fabric tube I iirmly to the stud 5. It will be understood from the above that the fabric tubing i is contacting thc casing 2 and stud 5 on one side of the material only. The preferred method of placing the cloth tube in place is to slip a predetermined length down over the stud, reverse it at the bottom of the cup, place a small snap spring ring 9 on over the stud and fabric to hold the fabric to the stud at the bottom, then draw the fabric up and over the upper edge of the cup, where it is clamped in place by the rubber ring 1. It is to be understood from the above that the fabric tubing is formed as a W with the center ordinarily raised more than twice the height of the cup. Filtering and purifying materials are now loaded into the open upper end of the tube 6 and compressed down into the cup 2.

As the compressed material is forced into the cup it naturally forms the fabric into an elongated doughnut form. It is also to be understood that as the material is compressed into the fabric or sock, the sock is permitted to draw in between the clamping surfaces just sufficiently to bring about the desired tension in the fabric. After a predetermined amount of filtering material has been loaded and compressed into the fabric I the clamping ring l and tube 6 are removed. The perforations 3 around the lower end of the cup 2 permit the escape of air when the material is compressed in the cup, which is,

.incidentally done with a hollow ram, not shown.

The perforations 4 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 are used for kick-out pins (not shown) which during manufacturing operations are forced up contacting the free washer Il, resting in the bottom of the cup, which when pressed up forced the formed element out of the cup.

Referring to Fig. 2, the purifying materials are shown loaded and compressed into the cup. The clamping rings l and 8 are shown as removed and a second snap ring i4 is shown clamping both the outside and inside fabric tubing to the center stud 5. The upper loose end of the fabric tubing l5 is now reversed and drawn down over the flared edge of the cup I6. The kick-out pins previously mentioned and not shown are caused to raise against the washer H forcing the element up and out of the cup, thus drawing in tension the second layer of folded fabric down over the outside of the hollow tubular element.

Referring to Fig. 3, the third stage of forming the element is now shown with one thickness of fabric on the inside and two thicknesses on the outside. A hollow tapered pin I8 is shown, partly through the element with the lower loose end of the fabric I9 tucked into the inside and held in place with a coil spring like spacer 20, which is holding the compressed cloth tubing in place. As the hollow pin I8 and spring 20 are forced upwardly the fabric is drawn up in tension through the core of the element.

and now covering the purifying material with two thicknesses of fabric, both outside and inside. As the hollow pin I8 was drawn through the lower constricting snap ring 9 it was opened to permit the free passage of the fabric covered spring spacer coil 20. As the hollow pin was with-drawn through the upper snap ring I4 the inner fabric tubing covering on the spring 20 reached the -limit of its upward travel thereby retarding and stopping the spring which was irnmediately clamped between the constricting rings 9 and I4. It is to be understood, therefore, t-hat the coil spacer spring 20 serves to keep the element in shape both longitudinally and horizontally.

Referring to Fig. 5, the element is covered on the exterior 24 with two thicknesses of expanded fabric material and with two thicknesses of compressed fabric 25 on the inside. It will be further noted that the constricting rings 9 and I4 effectively constrict both ends of the element to a lesser diameter than the inside diameter'of the coiled spacer spring 20, the purpose being to seal the element on the ends when it is slipped over the hollow outlet tube of a filter as shown on Fig. 10. It is to be further understood that the novel element in its preferred form is flexible and normally grows in volume as deleterious substances are collected and absorbed within the body of the element. It is thus evident that the exterior surface is expanded and the interior is compressed at the core. Experience has taught usthat this action is best obtained by causing the oil to flow from the entire exposed exterior surface of the element toward a common center. In this case the growing action which causes swelling of the element body naturally opens up the porosity on the exterior surface which not only prevents clogging of the outside surface but also continually presents new exposed surfaces of the unused chemically treated purifying materials within the body of the element itself. We therefore, prefer to make the element in the formy shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and install it as illustrated in Figs. and 11.

Modified forms may be made, however, for special purposes, such as shown in Fig. 6 where the element is used as an up-flow filter contacting the shell on its exterior and passing the oil through from the bottom toward the top. In this case the fabric tubing normally begins at 26 and ends at 21 forming a flexible casing supported and locked as an assembly by the coil spacer spring 28. In operation the top perforated cup 30 holds the element down in the filter shell or housing. The spring 28 is supported on a perforated Washer 3| and a nut 32 attached to .the central tube 33. Constricting rings effectively seal the inside of the element around the tube as illustrated at 34. During operation a growing action of the filter expands downwardly compressing the spacer spring 29 and thus opens the porosity of the exposed fabric on the surface where the oil enters the purifying element.

In Fig. '7 a further modified form is shown wherein a hollow perforated flanged tube 35 is provided and the fabric exterior tubing is drawn in, compressed and sealed on one end with a flanged bushing 31. The purifying materials 38 are loaded as before, the fabric 36 is then folded over and compressed into the hollow perforated tube 35 and sealed with a second bushing 38. In this case the growing action of the element expands the fabric 36 similar to the action described in Fig. 4. Fig. 8 is a still further modification wherein the fabric covering 40 has .a beginning at 4I andan ending at 42. The element is formed in a manner similar to the forming of Fig. 4 but without the double thickness of the fabric or the central coiled spacer spring. The element material 43 is indicated as being composed of alternate spacing or mixed porous materials such as cotton waste materials, cocoanut fiber, etc., incased in a exible porous fabric casing.

Fig. 9 is a still further modification in which the element is best adapted to fit an up-flow lter which has no central tube or stud. In this case the element periphery 45 would fit snugly into a cylindrical casing, similar to that shown on Fig. 6, but without a center tube. The element is formed by, rst, attaching a length of knitted fabric tubing to the small end of a tapered small spring member 46 with a constricting means 41, then placing the sock material in a cup'and folding the top out as illustrated in Fig. 1. (In this case, however, no central stud is provided.) The purifying materials are loaded and compressed into the fabric tubing, the top is then folded in and held in place with a second constricting ring compressing it tightly around the upper end of the central extension of the spring 46. A barbed washer 48 is slipped down over the wire extension compressing the element into proper form. A ring is then formed in the wire which locks the assembly into a seemingly endless casing of flexible construction. In operation this element can expand preferably downwardly as deleterious substances are collected in its interior.

Referring to Fig. 10, we have shown a novel casing arrangement which houses our purifying element in its preferred form and which possesses novel advantages not heretofore known or used. Reference character 50 designates a cylindrical shell or housing to which is attached a novel bottom fitting arrangement 5I. 52 designates a removable coverheld in place by a central hollow stud 53 to which is attached a handle 54. An oil inlet 55 and an outlet 56 are provided in the fitting 5I which also provides a threaded portion 53 into which the hollow central stud 53 is threaded. A spring is provided which insures an even upward pressure on the washer 6I below the element 62. In some installations it is desirable to screw the hollow stud 53 rigidly into the bottom fitting 5I, and screw off the handle part 54 to remove the cover when changing elements. In other cases it may be desirable to rigidly attach the handle part 54 to the central tube and unscrew the assembly from the bottom fitting 5I when changing elements. In either case the compression spring 60 kicks out the used element when the cover is removed. This is an important feature of the invention as it eliminates the problem of getting out a used element from a deep shell. In the past it has been common practice to be compelled to use packing hooks, Screwdrivers, pliers, etc., to get a dirty used element out of some types of oil filters. particularly those that have used a porous fabric covering which sealed on the casing and became plugged tightly into the casing with gummy sludge. When our preferred element form Fig. 4 is housed in our novel casing as illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, it is always clear of the shell and also free of sludge during its normal life.

It will be above the shell and come out free when the cover is removed. The growing action previously mentioned is further illustrated in Fig. 12

where the character 65 illustrates the hollow central outlettube and 66 the spacer coil. 61 is the double compressed fabric inner, covering over the purifying material 68. 69 -designates the expanded' double thickness outer covering before use. designates the still further expanded diameter of the element after use.

Referring to Fig. 13, 12 designates the general mass formation of our novel purifying material before it is attacked lby acids, moisture, gummy residue etc. 13 designates generally the purifying medium after it is attacked by the above and other deleterious substances. We call particularl attention to the curly heavy woody fibers such as noted by the characters l5, 16, 11 and the lighter straighter cotton bers 19, 80, 8i and mention their mixed relation before and after the changed forms of the individual particles. For instance, during the manufacture of the element certain chemical reactions and detergent agents are impregnated into the materials and as the particular deleterious matter meets its reactor within the element, changes occur in the chemical and physical structure of the oil being filtered and puried. For instance, dry curly Wood fibers impregnated with certain agents which cause a rapid absorption of acid moisture during operation cause the curly wood to unwind as it were. Other chemical agents impregnated into the cotton fibers cause the separation of impurities into baser simpler forms of colloids which are, when broken down, relatively simple to trap out of circulation. In view of the fact that the novel structure of the element actually grows in service and also since common crankcase sludge when broken down into its simpler forms of materials occupies considerably less space, the element is many times greater in both clean-up rate and long life. Among the principal advantages is the method of combining materials such as Wood bers either ground, broken, or shaved etc. into forms in tension, mixed with certain forms of cotton material which we have determined are superior for purifying and cleaning of oils and other fluids.

Other distinct advantages are the housing of this compounded material within a porous flexible knitted casing and supporting the structure with on iron core spacer preferably in the form of a spring wllich acts not only as a support, but in combination with certain agents impregnated into the element, it becomes a catalyzer and serves an important part of the function of actually purifying oils, maintaining a very'rapid flow rate through the element and actually adding Vback to the lubricant through catalytic action certain necessary chemical elements normally lost by use in an engine. Many variations in construction details and minor changes in materials used can be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of our invention and others skilled in the art may employ substitutes for those mentioned which will bring about approximate results Without eliminating the essential features of novelty which may be said to properly constitute our invention.y

Therefore what we claim is:

l. A pervious lter element through which fluids may be passed to remove impurities therefrom comprising, a `core of fibrous filtering material having an aperture extending therethrough, annular retainer members positioned adjacent the respective ends of said core aperture, a unitary tubular sheath encircling said core in a plurality of continuous toroidal convolutions and passing through saidicore aperture, and means within said core apertureor holding said sheath in engagement with said annular retainer members.

2. A pervious lter element through which fluids may be passed to remove impurities therefrom comprising, a core of iibrous filtering material having an aperture extending therethrough, annular retainer members positioned adjacent the respective ends of said core aperture, a unitary tubular sheath encircling said core in a. plurality of continuous toroidal convolutions and passing through said core aperture, and an axially resilient tubular element Within said core aperture and engaging said sheath for securing said sheath between said tubular element and said annular retainer members.

3. A cartridge for an oil lter comprising a tubular fabric casing, a predetermined mass of compacted filtering material in the casing, the compacted' mass having a, hollow central opening extending throughout its length, and constricting-rings surrounding and cooperating with the' tubular fabric casing and partially closing the hollow center on opposite ends of the compacted mass combined with a coil spacer spring extending through said central opening and terminating short of the ends of cartridge and which resists shortening of the cartridge when clamped in position in an oil conditioner.

4. The method of forming an oil filter cartridge, which comprises the steps of compacting a predetermined quantity of a. suitable filtering material into a tubular fabric casing which 1S capable of expanding transversely, a hollow space centrally through the cartridge, folding and stretching a portion of the tubular casing back over the portion containing the compacted material to provide a multi-ply covering while holdiig the tube at the fold, said fold being at one end of the cartridge, and placing in the hollov.T center of the filtering material a radially rigid support to prevent collapse of the filtering material into said hollow space.

5. The method of forming an oil lter cartridge, which comprises the steps of compacting a predetermined quantity of a ltering mixture in a fabric tube casing while maintaining a hollow core space centrally through the cartridge, folding back a portion of the tubular casing over the exterior in tension while holding the tube at the fold, said fold being at one end of the cartridge, and again folding a portion of the tube inwardly at the opposite end of the cartridge through the hollow center of the cartridge to produce a two-ply fabric casing.

6. The method of forming .an oil lter cartridge, which comprises placing a tubular fabric member, capable of stretching transversely, over a mandrel, constricting the member against the mandrel at a point intermediate the ends of the member, inverting one portion of the member, at one side of said constriction, back over the other portion, thus forming an annular compartment, filling the compartment with filtering material, constricting the end of said one portion of the member against the other portion of the member at a point spaced from the first constriction to hold the material in the compartment, removing the mandrel, inverting said other portion of the member at the second constriction and passing it completely back over the said one portion, again inverting said other portion of the member and passing it into the interior of said one portion within the space previously occupied by the mandrel, and nally inserting a foraminous supporting element Within said space to maintain the material in cylindrical form.

7. A filter cartridge comprising a tubular fabric casing capable of stretching transversely, means for circumferentially constricting the casing at a point adjacent to one end of the cartridge, a portion of the said casing folded back over said constricting memberlito form an annular compartment, a ltering material cornpacted in said compartment, means at the other end of the cartridge to constrict the drawn-over portion of the casing to hold the filtering material in place, the tubular casing being again folded back and drawn over the outer surface of said casing toward the rst constriction to form a double ply-covering for said ltering material, the free end of said casing being passed into the interior of the cartridge and the latter having a central opening from end to end, and means in said opening to maintain the material within the cartridge in cylindrical form.

8. A cartridge for an oil filter, comprising a tubular expansible and stretchable fabric casing, so folded upon itself to provide an enclosed, elongated, annular space, rings within said enclosed space, there being one ring at each end of said space and arranged at the folds of the fabric casing, said annular, elongated space lled with a ltering material, the cartridge having a central passageway extending from end to end of the cartridge, and a coiled spring in said central passageway to maintain the ltering material and casing in cylindrical form against radial or endwise collapse, the spring terminating short of the ends of the cartridge and with an end of the fabric casing tucked up into said central passageway and clamped in place by said spring.

CHARLES A. WINSLOW. LAURENCE L. MOORE. 

